NOTE: This is NOT the fiction for Week 2 and is from Week 1 Ian Danver “Heading out Ian?” One of the guards at the North Security Gate asked with a smile.
“That I am Aaron. Joining in a convoy that’s going North.” I replied in a somewhat dry manner.
Aaron smiled with a sense of confusion as to why I was going away as harvesting of crops was beginning “Why North?”
I took in a breath through my nose as I stared at him. “You know what I’m looking for.” I reminded him sternly.
“Ian. I believe you. I really do. But Keri and Cassandra need you around and what about your crops?” Aaron mentioned with an increasingly worried tone.
Putting my hand on his shoulder I reassured him, “My shallots are warm underground, the peppers are shielded from frost, and Keri wants me to do this more than pulling up plants.”
“Does your father even know about this?”
“He’ll find out either way.”
Aaron lunged at me and hugged me like he would never see me again. “Don’t go out there and get yourself killed.”
“I’m not, you know me.” I reminded him.
“Just remember how to get back here and if the shit hits the fan, don’t try and be a hero.” Aaron declared as he took a couple of steps and signaled with his left hand to open the outer gate with his rifle clutched in his other hand.
“I pray you find some answers out there, Ian.” Aaron yelled as me and the others walked through.
I waved goodbye to my dear friend as the metal gates closed. I knew that the guards would have my back for as far as they can see. After that, these other four and myself were my only security in this broken world.
We were all looking for something beyond New Bottsford. One wanted answers to the infamous May 20th bombing while another wanted to seek out trading tech devices. I just wanted to know the answer to the same thing that Aaron, Keri, my father and myself; who killed my mother? I didn’t even care if the person that did it had since been killed by the Horsemen or turned into a bullet-filled corpse by the MPD.
Outside the gates of New Bottsford, the homes were either decrepit, collapsed, or simply vanished. Nature always had tendency to do that and sometimes mankind speeds that up. The roads, or what remained of them were full of debris, plants, ruined cars, and plenty of rocks that were part of the road itself. As we moved north, I and some others then heard a noise to the northwest of our location. The noise could have been a cat, or a fox, but the rustling noise came from a small child who dashed as fast as possible towards what remained of a two-story stone apartment building.
We went up to the structure and noticed another entrance off to the side. Bordeaux, a rather odd almost narcissistic woman went first up the staircase to the upper-floor. We noticed that one of the floorboards were broken, so going up one at a time was probably the smartest way to go. Bordeaux got her foot stuck in the floorboard when she got up the staircase. I then went up. The staircase, like the rest of the building had seen better days. When were those days? I could care less. As I ascended, one of the stairs gave way. Thankfully, I caught myself from falling down and was able to hoist myself back up without tearing apart the other stairs. Rio did the same thing on the staircase, yet Robert go up just fine. How he managed to pull that one off, I will never know.
Once all of us were up, there was a makeshift door that was standing. A hushing sound from what sound like was coming from a woman grabbed the attention of me and a few others. Cautiously, we passed through the makeshift door and to a small apartment. There was a roof over where the apartment was with a few things inside. None of us went very far inside though. A woman in her 30’s was standing in a doorway between the living room and a bedroom. She stood with a tense stance while staring us down.
“What’re you doing in my house?” She demanded. Her accent sounded thicker than anywhere from the south.
Without making any fast moves Rio held out his hands as he expressed to her that we meant her no harm.
“Okay, then. What do you want?” The woman replied as she remained where she stood. I however, kept an eye on her. Trading in the New Bottsford Market will force you to learn how to watch a person’s hands at all times.
Rio asked if there had been any hostile groups around. The woman laughed it off as she pointed at us as she exclaimed that such a thing depends on who we stand with. In all reality in a world like this, she had a point. She had no clue who the hell we were and If I were in the same spot as her, my gun would out and ready to fire at the least.
“We aren’t with anyone. Honest.” replied Rio.
With a look of skepticism the woman discussed how usually The Bandits of the Hood are around here and she works with them so she can feed her family. At that time a small child came up to her and hugged her leg. I wasn’t sure if it was the same one that sprinted across and gained our attention earlier. The young girl had dirt on her face with matted hair on her head. I could tell that there was a sense of fear coming from her eyes.
“Look, do you have anything to trade?” Questioned Rio as he tried to change the subject while holding out a mug in his hand. The child took notice of the cup and ran towards it before the woman could stop her and grabbed the mug. Maybe it was her that sprinted outside. Hopefully, that child will be more cautious when doing something like that. We may be friendly, but the next people to walk by may not.
The woman gave a slight smile in response, “I think I can find something worthwhile to trade.” Still tense, the woman left the doorway and walked up to a crate. My eyes still focused on her, she pulled out two items to trade the mug for: a box filled with broken glass and a bottle of water. Rio, without thinking accepted the water. Claire then approaches for a trade: A golf club for a three AA Batteries. I however, withheld from trading.
With the trades made, the woman and her thick accent opened up a bit. The said not only had she been working with the Bandits of the Hood. But she believes that they may have hidden motives. That took my attention away from her hands. If there are in fact members of the Bandits of the Hood doing things under the table, it could bring a clue as to what happened in New Bottsford; both recently and back on the May 20th Bombing 14 years ago.
After we left the crumbling apartment, I thought to myself: If there is a splinter group with the Bandits, who would it be and how high up in whatever rankings they have does it go? Maybe I should have spoken up in there and asked further questions and even give a trade a shot. I didn’t though. Next time I should ask questions if I want something.
Ian Danver
“Heading out Ian?” One of the guards at the North Security Gate asked with a smile.
“That I am Aaron. Joining in a convoy that’s going North.” I replied in a somewhat dry manner.
Aaron smiled with a sense of confusion as to why I was going away as harvesting of crops was beginning “Why North?”
I took in a breath through my nose as I stared at him. “You know what I’m looking for.” I reminded him sternly.
“Ian. I believe you. I really do. But Keri and
Cassandra need you around and what about your crops?” Aaron mentioned with an increasingly worried tone.
Putting my hand on his shoulder I reassured him, “My shallots are warm underground, the peppers are shielded from frost, and Keri wants me to do this more than pulling up plants.”
“Does your father even know about this?”
“He’ll find out either way.”
Aaron lunged at me and hugged me like he would never see me again. “Don’t go out there and get yourself killed.”
“I’m not, you know me.” I reminded him.
“Just remember how to get back here and if the shit hits the fan, don’t try and be a hero.” Aaron declared as he took a couple of steps and signaled with his left hand to open the outer gate with his rifle clutched in his other hand.
“I pray you find some answers out there, Ian.” Aaron yelled as me and the others walked through.
I waved goodbye to my dear friend as the metal gates closed. I knew that the guards would have my back for as far as they can see. After that, these other four and myself were my only security in this broken world.
We were all looking for something beyond New Bottsford. One wanted answers to the infamous May 20th bombing while another wanted to seek out trading tech devices. I just wanted to know the answer to the same thing that Aaron, Keri, my father and myself; who killed my mother? I didn’t even care if the person that did it had since been killed by the Horsemen or turned into a bullet-filled corpse by the MPD.
Outside the gates of New Bottsford, the homes were either decrepit, collapsed, or simply vanished. Nature always had tendency to do that and sometimes mankind speeds that up. The roads, or what remained of them were full of debris, plants, ruined cars, and plenty of rocks that were part of the road itself. As we moved north, I and some others then heard a noise to the northwest of our location. The noise could have been a cat, or a fox, but the rustling noise came from a small child who dashed as fast as possible towards what remained of a two-story stone apartment building.
We went up to the structure and noticed another entrance off to the side. Bordeaux, a rather odd almost narcissistic woman went first up the staircase to the upper-floor. We noticed that one of the floorboards were broken, so going up one at a time was probably the smartest way to go. Bordeaux got her foot stuck in the floorboard when she got up the staircase. I then went up. The staircase, like the rest of the building had seen better days. When were those days? I could care less. As I ascended, one of the stairs gave way. Thankfully, I caught myself from falling down and was able to hoist myself back up without tearing apart the other stairs. Rio did the same thing on the staircase, yet Robert go up just fine. How he managed to pull that one off, I will never know.
Once all of us were up, there was a makeshift door that was standing. A hushing sound from what sound like was coming from a woman grabbed the attention of me and a few others. Cautiously, we passed through the makeshift door and to a small apartment. There was a roof over where the apartment was with a few things inside. None of us went very far inside though. A woman in her 30’s was standing in a doorway between the living room and a bedroom. She stood with a tense stance while staring us down.
“What’re you doing in my house?” She demanded. Her accent sounded thicker than anywhere from the south.
Without making any fast moves Rio held out his hands as he expressed to her that we meant her no harm.
“Okay, then. What do you want?” The woman replied as she remained where she stood. I however, kept an eye on her. Trading in the New Bottsford Market will force you to learn how to watch a person’s hands at all times.
Rio asked if there had been any hostile groups around. The woman laughed it off as she pointed at us as she exclaimed that such a thing depends on who we stand with. In all reality in a world like this, she had a point. She had no clue who the hell we were and If I were in the same spot as her, my gun would out and ready to fire at the least.
“We aren’t with anyone. Honest.” replied Rio.
With a look of skepticism the woman discussed how usually The Bandits of the Hood are around here and she works with them so she can feed her family. At that time a small child came up to her and hugged her leg. I wasn’t sure if it was the same one that sprinted across and gained our attention earlier. The young girl had dirt on her face with matted hair on her head. I could tell that there was a sense of fear coming from her eyes.
“Look, do you have anything to trade?” Questioned Rio as he tried to change the subject while holding out a mug in his hand. The child took notice of the cup and ran towards it before the woman could stop her and grabbed the mug. Maybe it was her that sprinted outside. Hopefully, that child will be more cautious when doing something like that. We may be friendly, but the next people to walk by may not.
The woman gave a slight smile in response, “I think I can find something worthwhile to trade.” Still tense, the woman left the doorway and walked up to a crate. My eyes still focused on her, she pulled out two items to trade the mug for: a box filled with broken glass and a bottle of water. Rio, without thinking accepted the water. Claire then approaches for a trade: A golf club for a three AA Batteries. I however, withheld from trading.
With the trades made, the woman and her thick accent opened up a bit. The said not only had she been working with the Bandits of the Hood. But she believes that they may have hidden motives. That took my attention away from her hands. If there are in fact members of the Bandits of the Hood doing things under the table, it could bring a clue as to what happened in New Bottsford; both recently and back on the May 20th Bombing 14 years ago.
After we left the crumbling apartment, I thought to myself: If there is a splinter group with the Bandits, who would it be and how high up in whatever rankings they have does it go? Maybe I should have spoken up in there and asked further questions and even give a trade a shot. I didn’t though. Next time I should ask questions if I want something.